The higher education airways are abuzz with activity resulting from this week’s release of recommendations from the White House Task Force to Protect Students from Sexual Assault (WHTF). The Task Force, commissioned in January by President Obama, has connected with thousands of key stakeholders to gather insights on the challenges and opportunities facing campuses in an effort to provide practical instructions for colleges to identify, prevent, and respond to sexual assault.

Vice President Joe Biden with survivor, Madeline Smith, a student at Harvard University, who shared her story at the White House Event on April 29th, 2014

Over the past few months, EverFi, along with Campus SaVE Act rule-makers and proponents, has engaged with the Task Force to help provide a framework of best practices and sexual assault prevention standards. We were honored to join Vice President Biden, Secretary of Education Arne Duncan, and Lynn Rosenthal, the White House Advisor on Violence Against Women, at the White House yesterday to champion their efforts.

During his impassioned plea for men to get more involved in the fight against sexual assault, the Vice President shared the “1 is 2 Many” public service announcement. The spot features Hollywood actors Benicio del Toro, Daniel Craig, Steve Carell, Seth Myers and Dulé Hill joining President Barack Obama and Vice President Biden to encourage men to be an active part of ending sexual assault.

Male celebs help White House stop sexual assault

Key Resources:

In our effort to support campuses, we’ve pulled together many of the key documents and materials that have been released in the past month as the result of the White House Task Force and VAWA rule-making:

1 is 2 Many PSA – White House public service announcement urging men to get involved in the fight against sexual assault

Not Alone – The first report of the White House Task Force to Protect Students from Sexual Assault

NotAlone.gov – a new web resource launched in connection with the White House Task Force

Sample Memorandum of Understanding(MOU) for partnerships with local rape crisis centers – these vital community-based organizations can provide critical assistance and support for victim services and prevention

Title IX FAQs – questions and answers on Title IX and sexual violence, released by the Department of Education to provide additional guidance to schools concerning their obligations under this legislation